LEX
I draw up outside the Sullivan house. Chloe's father opens the door and just looks at me for a moment before he steps to one side, invites me in. I know Gabe Sullivan well. He is not happy about the situation. I wouldn't be. Finding your employer as a prospective boyfriend for your daughter?
"Mr. Sullivan, I will treat your daughter with the utmost respect."
"Can I get that in writing?"
"From the legal department, first thing Monday morning."
"You selling me into white slavery, Dad?" And Chloe comes bouncing down the stairs, dressed for the city in a rather elegant long skirt and a little embroidered jacket. The whole thing topped off with a Metropolis Sharks cap. It works on her.
CHLOE
Nice comment, Sullivan. Both of them smiling up at me. It is so odd to see Lex Luthor in my hallway. He's black-clad and elegant as always. I'm really glad I bought the new top.
He's brought the Ferrari.
"You should have a Smallville bumper sticker."
"Oh?"
"Yeah." I frame the back of the car. " 'Luthercorp - shit happens.' "
"Appalling woman. Get in." He holds the door for me. "Don't be so ungrateful. My - 'crap factory' pays for your lifestyle. And mine."
LEX
I drive off at an unusually sedate pace. Chloe glares at me.
"I'm not made of glass, Luthor." She growls. "Let's blow this cow-town."
Metropolis is three hours' drive north of Smallville. If you're an arrogant rich kid in a very fast car, you can do it in under two.
Chloe commandeers the music system, and we cross the town limits to something shatteringly loud. It seems like a good omen. She's grinning at me now.
"This could be a real scoop, you know. Lex Luthor, the casual side."
"I don't do lifestyle pieces. Have you got a tape-recorder in that bag of yours?"
"No, it's in the hat." She settles back in the seat. "Actually, I'm taking the day off. Off the record."
"That would be a scoop. Torch editor in relaxation shocker."
"This does not mean that I will not ask you questions, though."
"Oh. Like what?" This could be a bad idea, after all.
"Like...when did you play hockey?"
"Huh?" How did she find out about that?
Her tongue flicks out, touches her upper lip briefly, and I nearly drive off the road.
"That little notch on your lip. Common amongst certain sports types. So I'm guessing - hockey."
"How do you...no, I don't want to know."
"Clark calls me the Queen of irrelevant facts."
I do not want to talk about Clark. I notice the flicker of shadow on her face, grip the wheel a little tighter.
"It was at one of my more northerly schools. But my father didn't approve of the heir to the Luthor fortune playing such a plebeian sport."
"Hence the fencing?"
"Hence the fencing."
"Funny, I never figured you as being big on team sports."
"Two sharp blades and a heavy stick? The potential for payback was enormous."
"Ah. Again, the emphasis on weaponry. I sense a pattern forming."
CHLOE
Lex is telling me about a fencing tournament against Miskatonic, when I realise that I am just watching his mouth, and imagining him in his fencing kit.
I am falling into the Pit. I was thinking about Lex Luthor's butt. I am damned.
I have no idea what this day is all about.
Or at least, I have an idea, but it seems way too strange.
Then again, we've been living in Smallville. Home of strange.
And there are definitely worse things to think about than Lex's butt.
Crap. Now he wants to know why I'm grinning.
I draw up outside the Sullivan house. Chloe's father opens the door and just looks at me for a moment before he steps to one side, invites me in. I know Gabe Sullivan well. He is not happy about the situation. I wouldn't be. Finding your employer as a prospective boyfriend for your daughter?
"Mr. Sullivan, I will treat your daughter with the utmost respect."
"Can I get that in writing?"
"From the legal department, first thing Monday morning."
"You selling me into white slavery, Dad?" And Chloe comes bouncing down the stairs, dressed for the city in a rather elegant long skirt and a little embroidered jacket. The whole thing topped off with a Metropolis Sharks cap. It works on her.
CHLOE
Nice comment, Sullivan. Both of them smiling up at me. It is so odd to see Lex Luthor in my hallway. He's black-clad and elegant as always. I'm really glad I bought the new top.
He's brought the Ferrari.
"You should have a Smallville bumper sticker."
"Oh?"
"Yeah." I frame the back of the car. " 'Luthercorp - shit happens.' "
"Appalling woman. Get in." He holds the door for me. "Don't be so ungrateful. My - 'crap factory' pays for your lifestyle. And mine."
LEX
I drive off at an unusually sedate pace. Chloe glares at me.
"I'm not made of glass, Luthor." She growls. "Let's blow this cow-town."
Metropolis is three hours' drive north of Smallville. If you're an arrogant rich kid in a very fast car, you can do it in under two.
Chloe commandeers the music system, and we cross the town limits to something shatteringly loud. It seems like a good omen. She's grinning at me now.
"This could be a real scoop, you know. Lex Luthor, the casual side."
"I don't do lifestyle pieces. Have you got a tape-recorder in that bag of yours?"
"No, it's in the hat." She settles back in the seat. "Actually, I'm taking the day off. Off the record."
"That would be a scoop. Torch editor in relaxation shocker."
"This does not mean that I will not ask you questions, though."
"Oh. Like what?" This could be a bad idea, after all.
"Like...when did you play hockey?"
"Huh?" How did she find out about that?
Her tongue flicks out, touches her upper lip briefly, and I nearly drive off the road.
"That little notch on your lip. Common amongst certain sports types. So I'm guessing - hockey."
"How do you...no, I don't want to know."
"Clark calls me the Queen of irrelevant facts."
I do not want to talk about Clark. I notice the flicker of shadow on her face, grip the wheel a little tighter.
"It was at one of my more northerly schools. But my father didn't approve of the heir to the Luthor fortune playing such a plebeian sport."
"Hence the fencing?"
"Hence the fencing."
"Funny, I never figured you as being big on team sports."
"Two sharp blades and a heavy stick? The potential for payback was enormous."
"Ah. Again, the emphasis on weaponry. I sense a pattern forming."
CHLOE
Lex is telling me about a fencing tournament against Miskatonic, when I realise that I am just watching his mouth, and imagining him in his fencing kit.
I am falling into the Pit. I was thinking about Lex Luthor's butt. I am damned.
I have no idea what this day is all about.
Or at least, I have an idea, but it seems way too strange.
Then again, we've been living in Smallville. Home of strange.
And there are definitely worse things to think about than Lex's butt.
Crap. Now he wants to know why I'm grinning.